Typographical distributing mechanism



Jan. 17, 1928.

A. J. STOUGES TYPOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed March 27 INVENTOR I f ATTOR -35 A am Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE)" an'rnon J. stations, on ounnns VILLAGE, nnw Yonx, name mo mundanmama nmorvrn COMPANY, A oonrolmrronon NEW YORK.

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Application filed March 2, 1927. Serial No. 171,930.

This. invention relates to typographical distributing machines, such as linotype ma chines of the general organizationrepresented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthal- 8 er, N0. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled line, the 001m posed line transferred to the face of a mold,

10 the mold filled with molten metal to form a sing or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. In these machines, the

composedlines, after casting, are carriedupward by a, so-called second elevator and transferred into a distributor box, where the matrices'are separated from one another by 10 meansof a reciprocating finger which lifts them successively into the threads of the overlying distributor screws. It has been found in practice that occasionally, andunder certain conditions hereinafter pointed out, a matrix will slip off the finger as it is being liftedand become jammed in the dis tributor, causing damage to itself or' other parts and resulting in the stoppage of the distributor with-the attendant annoyances a0 and delays.

The present invention is intended to overcome these difiiculties and contemplates an automatic device which will act to maintain the individual matrices in proper engage- 86 ment with the finger as they are being lifted into thescrews. In the embodiment illustrated, the; proposed device isin the form of a horizontally disposed guide plate resiliently mounted in the distributor box and rovided at one end with an inclined or eveled surface arranged'to cooperate with thelower projecting ear of each matrix as it is raised by the li ting finger.

In the accompanying drawings, theinveir 46 tion has been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example and obviously many changes and variations may be made therein'which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is tobe understood, therefore,

50 that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment exceptin so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a distributor.

box having the present improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a similar View, with parts broken away, showingthe lifting finger in its upper position; i Fig.3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the constructional details ofthe proposed device and themanner in which it is a-ttachedto the distributor box; and Fig. 4; is a view similar-to Fig. 2 illustratmg the damage that might occur to a'matrix in the event of its becoming disengaged from the lifting fingerasit is being lifted into the screws.

The well-known type of distributing'mech- I anism shown in Fig. lincludes the distrib utor proper, which comprises the distributor bar A and the associated set of matrix conveyi'ng screws A the distributor box 13 supported at the receiving end of thedis tributor and formed with front and rear side walls B B and the vertically reciprocating finger'C, the latter being pivoted to the free end of the rocking lever C and actuated by the'cani Atsecured to the end of one of the distributor screw spindles.

After casting, the line of matrices is transported to the top of the machine and shifted horizontally by the spring actuated transfer slide or pusher D through the box B and up against the arresting shoulders B formed on the upper and lower guide rails B5 The matrices are then detached from the lineb'y thereciprocating finger C, which engages them by their bottom edges as they are of the thinnest matrix, so that only one matrix may be lifted at a time, the influence of the pusher D, in pressing the matrices squarely upagaiustthe arresting shoulders B serving to brace or guide them facewise and thus prevent them from slipping off the linger C. Ordinarily, i. e., when the machine is being operated at normalspeed,ithe pusher is not retracted to transfers. succeed ing line until the last matrix of the preceding line has been fed to the screws. It frsquently happens, howevery'that when the machine is operating at full capacity, the y first matrix line willnot have been complete 1y distributed when the pusher recedes, one or more matrices remaining in the box. Under such conditions, the undistributed matrix or matrices, being'temporily deprived of the facewise support of the :pushe'r- D,

are likely to be jarred ofi the lifting finger.

C by the normal vibrations of the machine or actually pulled therefrom by the iusher itself if the matrices happen to be dirty or minedup. As aresult, said matrices in alling may become lodged in the distrib utor box B and are very likely to become wed ed and bent out of shape between the shou ders B and the threads of the distributor screws. An. accident of" this kind is depicted in Fig. 4. f

It is the object of the present invention to obviate the foregoing ditliculties, and to this end auxiliary means"are provided for maintaining the individual; matrices, when unsupportedby the pusher D, in engagement with the finger C as they are being lifted into the screws. In the present instance, such means consist of a horizontally disposed guide plate E slidably attached for slightendwise movement to the side wall B ofthe distributor box B and arranged to cooperate with the lower projecting ear :1: of each leading matrix when engageclwith the lifting finger C. In the normal position of the guide plate E,

its vertical edge E will stand. spaced from "the arresting shoulders 13 a horizontal distance determined by. the thickness of the thinnest matrix ears, so that. when a thin matrix is being lifted above the shoulders it will just about clear the edge E and yet be restrained thereby from slipping off the lifting finger until it is picked up by the screws. However, in order that the plate E may be capable of adapting itself to matrices of greater thicknesses and of cooperating therewith in the same manner, it is further formed with an inclined orbeveled surface E merging with the vertical edge E at its lower end. As bestshown inFig. 3, the guide plate is supported in place by means of a screw E and a screw stud E which are slidably arranged in horizontal elongated slots 6 cut through the side wall B of the distributor box. A spring F, anchored at oneend to a fixed eye F and connected at its'other end tothe stud E, tends to hold the guide plate constantly in its normal or foremost position, the screws E, E banking against the ends of their respeetiveslots 6.

According to the foregoing arrangement,

any matrix which happens to occupy a position against the arresting shoulders B, when the pusher D has receded, may belitted into the distributor screws by the finger C without danger of becoming disen a edtherefrom, the customaryl'p of OFlCTlC lifting finger serving to support the .matrix against facewise displacement in one direction and the guide plate E serving to maintain it at such time against facewise displacement in the other direction. 'It the matrix be one of the thicker variety, its thicker lower car a: in rising will engage the beveled surface E of the guide plate and cam the alate back against the tension of the spring until it passes onto the vertical edge E, which thereafter maintains itin engagement with the lifting fingerl These thicker matrices are thus really clamped to the finger C until the screws pick them up, although the tension of the spring F should be very light and only strong enough to impart the desired resiliency to the plate E.

While the invent-i on has been herein shown in preferred form, it is obvious that the guide plate E might be appliedin the form of a lever instead of a slide, which lever couldbe pivoted to the box B in such manner asto locate the matrix engaging surfaces in the required positions. These and other modifications will: readily suggest themselves to. those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, its construction andmode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveyin screws, the combination of a reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices one after another into .the screws, means for presenting the matrices successively to the finger, and auxiliary means for holding the individual matrices irrespective of thickness against rearwarddisplacement from the finger as they are being lifted I 2. In a typographicaldistributing mechanisrn comprising a distributor barland a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices one after another into the screws, a retractible pusher for presenting the matrices successively to the finger, and auxiliary means for holding the. individual matrices irrespective of thickness against rearward displacement from the lifting finger when the pusher is retracted.

3. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar anda set of matrix conveying screws,the combination of a reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices one after another into the screws, means for presenting the matrices successively to the finger, and means arranged to cooperate with theindividual matrices while supported on the finger for maintaining them in proper engagement therewith as they are being lifted. y y I 1 4. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of a distributor box, a reciprocating finger associated therewith for lifting the matrices one after another into the screws,

means for presenting the matrices succes sively to the finger, and a yieldable guide 'member mounted in the box and arranged vidual matrices irrespective of thickness against rearward displacement from the finger as they are lifted, the said guide member being resiliently mounted in the box and formed with a beveled surface to cooperate with matrices of different thicknesses. i

6. In a typographical distributing mechanism of the class described, the combination of matrix supporting rails formed with arresting shoulders, a reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices successively above said shoulders, and a horizontally disposed guide plate for maintaining the individual matrices in engagement with the finger as they are lifted, said guide plate having a vertical matrix engaging edge normally spaced from the arresting shoulders a horizontal distance determined by the thickness of the thinnest matrix.

7. In a typographical distributing mechanism comprising a distributor bar and a set of matrix conveying screws, the combination of matrix supporting rails formed with arresting shoulders, a reciprocating finger for lifting the matrices successively above said shoulders into the screws, and a spring-actuated horizontally disposed guide plate arranged to cooperate with the lower projecting ears of the individual matrices for maintaining them in proper position on the finger as they are lifted, said guide plate having a vertical forward edge normally spaced from the arresting shoulders a hori- .zontal distance determined by the thickness of the thinnest matrix, and having further an inclined or beveled surface at the lower end of said vertical edge to adapt the plate to matrix ears of different thicknesses.

8. The distributor box B provided with matrix sustaining rails B formed with the arresting shoulders 13, the lipped matrix lifting finger C, and the matrix guide plate E having the vertical edge E spaced at a given horizontal distance from the arresting shoulders B said guide plate being arranged to hold the individual matrices irrespective of thickness against rearward displacement from the lifting finger G as they are being lifted.

9. The distributor box B provided with matrix sustaining rails B formed with the arrestin shoulders B the lipped matrix lifting nger C, the matrix guide plate E having the vertical edge E spaced at a given horizontal distance from the arresting shoulders B and the beveled surface E merging into the vertical edge E.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature hereto. ANTHONY J. STOUGES. [1,. s] 

